Achterzijde van het Koninklijk Paleis op de Dam, Amsterdam 1858

Charles-Henri Plaut captured the rear view of the Royal Palace on Dam Square in Amsterdam in this albumen print. Notice atop the palace is a statue standing next to a globe; an orb that serves as a potent symbol of dominion and cosmic order. The orb as an emblem of power harkens back to the Roman Empire, where it signified the emperor’s universal rule. It was a visual language adopted and adapted by monarchs throughout Europe. This symbol then evolved into the "globus cruciger," integrating the cross, signifying Christian sovereignty over the world. Here, in Amsterdam, this gilded sphere resonates with the city’s Golden Age, a period of global trade and influence. It’s a powerful, albeit subtle, assertion of Dutch ambition and reach. The image as a whole, steeped in classical architectural cues, is designed to evoke in the viewer a sense of awe and stability, connecting the present with a lineage of power stretching back through time.